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September 30, 2009
Human Rights Conference
The Emory Public Interest Committee has announced their conference entitled “Expendable People?: A Human Rights Perspective on the Impact of Global Economic Migration on Georgia.” The conference will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, and it will address three aspects of economic migration—human trafficking, the guest-worker program, and the undocumented workforce—and aims to challenge current law and culture to examine the health of human rights within U.S. borders.
Student conference organizers seek to engage conference participants in an open discussion of each of these topics: their causes, incidences, and effects—on those directly involved and on the greater Georgia community. The conference will serve as a space where individual, government, and community responses to economic migration can be examined and even challenged. Specifically, the plan is to discuss the relationship between human rights and citizenship.
Information is available at http://www.law.emory.edu/academics/conferences/epic-conference.html, and registration is open now. There is no fee to attend but registration is requested in order to plan for materials and meals. Please email conference co-chairs Jenny Hernandez and Sarah Stein at emorylawconference(at)gmail.com if you have any questions.
Conferences of these sorts are not only wonderful ways to increase your knowledge but also are excellent opportunities to network with current and future professionals in the field. Take advantage of receptions and panels at events such as these to mingle and introduce yourself to others. You never know who you might meet or who might be able to steer you toward the next great employment opportunity. For tips on how to use networking to your best advantage, stop by the CSO and speak to a counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:43 PM
September 28, 2009
Follow-up Phone Calls
So you've sent out several resumes in the mail, and now it's time to relax and wait for responses - right? Wrong! If you do not hear anything back from those employers within 2 weeks, you must follow-up with a phone call! This is important for 2 reasons:
1. You want to make sure the employer received your resume in the first place. Things get lost in the mail, envelopes get misplaced in offices, documents get discarded accidentally - you get the picture. Confirming that an employer received your resume is a nonoffensive way to begin your follow-up phone conversation.
2. A follow-up phone call shows that you are genuinely interested in the position. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: if 10 students send you a resume and only one of those 10 follows-up with a phone call, who are you going to invite to come in for an interview? The point is that it is easy to send a resume in the mail and forget about it. Plently of people do. It's the follow-up phone call that lets employers know that you are sincerely interested in working for them.
So be sure to keep a log of who you've sent your resume to and when you sent it. That way you'll know exactly when to make those follow-up phone calls. You never know - a simple follow-up phone call could be the difference between being invited to come in for an interview or not! Please stop by the CSO to talk to a counselor if you have any questions about the follow-up process.
Posted by cld30 at 11:30 AM
September 24, 2009
Attention 3Ls: Presidential Management Fellows Program
If you are a 3L who is interested in federal government opportunities, you should be planning to apply to the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.
The PMF Program is a program that seeks graduate students who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. The PMF Program provides two-year Federal Government Fellowships. Graduate students from all academic disciplines, including law, who expect to graduate between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010 are eligible to be nominated by their schools for the upcoming 2009 application period.
For more information, see: https://www.pmf.opm.gov/index.aspx .
The application for the PMF Class of 2010 is expected to open in early October and will remain open for a very short period of time.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:51 PM
September 23, 2009
Tips to make you more marketable to employers!
For 2L and 3L students, this summer should have been a great opportunity to get an idea of what it will be like to be an attorney after graduation. Summer experiences are a wonderful way to get a perspective of how employers run their offices, handle cases and interact with staff.
Now that you are back into your busy class schedules, it is time to make sure you handle your job search and professional development like a separate class where you set aside a certain amount of time. Here are a few tips to be more marketable to employers:
Join local bar associations in the region where you intend to live after graduation or during the summer time. Most bar associations will allow law students to join for free. Each association has its perks to membership. For example, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) sends daily emails to its members with current issues in the Ohio courts. Updates on local law will assist you in better understanding the legal market in your region and provide you with an opportunity to engage in intelligent conversation with prospective employers.
Attend bar association events and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars. A prospective employer will be impressed that you took the initiative to attend a CLE for the sole purpose of gaining more information in that area of law. If the bar association charges a fee for a CLE or events, ask the association if you can volunteer instead of paying the fee. That will allow you to not only attend an event but have a specific task assigned once you are there. If you attend events at bar associations, make sure to speak with attorneys attending the event. Do not stay in one group with law students and friends you came with! This defeats the purpose of attending the event.
Make sure to place your activities with the bar associations on your resume. If you need assistance with ideas on how to properly place a CLE or bar membership on your resume, contact your career counselor!
Reach out to practitioners and alumni! Be proactive about reaching out to attorneys and employers for informational meetings and advice. Employers and alums remember what it was like to be in school seeking information related to employment. They are happy to help you but you must ask for it! If you would like to reach out to alums in your geographic preference, please contact your CSO career counselor.
Continue to look forward! Looking for employment can be a treacherous task but it is important to continue and persevere through the entire process. Remember a decision to nothing is a decision to do something! Make sure to continue doing research and applying to employers you envision yourself working for throughout the school year and do not give up!
Posted by kcc17 at 11:41 AM
September 21, 2009
Guest Blogger - A Day in the Life of Legal Aid Lawyer
Periodically throughout the year the CSO posts blog entries from guest bloggers about various topics. Please note that the views expressed by our guest bloggers are the personal opinion of each blogger and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the CSO. The CSO guest blogger entires are intended as an opportunity for attorneys currently practicing in the legal field to share their insight and advice with law students.
To kick off Public Service Theme Week, our guest blogger for the month of September is Dawn Spriggs, Esq. (class of 2003). Ms. Spriggs is a staff attorney with Community Legal Aid Services in Canton, Ohio. In her blog, Ms. Spriggs offers a glance at what it's like to practice in a day in the life of a legal aid lawyer.
"A day in the life of a legal aid lawyer might start off with a client in eviction court. Your client is disabled, mentally ill, and has virtually no support network. She lives in public housing with her two small children. If she is evicted, she will have no where to live, and may lose her children. She's being evicted because her boyfriend, the father of her children, was arrested for trafficking in marijuana and used her address when he was arrested. He doesn't officially live with her in her public housing apartment. He has an extensive criminal record and was denied admission to public housing. He is homeless and uses your client’s address. Your client knows he uses her address sometimes, but doesn’t think it is a big deal. It does violate her lease. Now she's about to lose her housing and her children over it.
You are her last line of defense between just getting by, and losing everything. When you win cases like that, an immense feeling of relief washes over you. But you have to have a difficult conversation with your client afterward, about following every single rule, no matter how silly or small they might seem to her.
When you lose cases like that, you're scrambling to decide if there is merit to file objections, or what you can do, in working with your client's case manager or social worker, to figure out where she's going to move to. Where can your client move to quickly and not lose her children? There isn't an easy solution.
Working at legal aid, you learn to think outside the box. You learn that what your client needs isn't just your legal assistance; it's your overall help.
Your day may also include petitioning to get your client, a victim of domestic violence, a civil protection order. You might go with her to the ex parte hearing where her abuser isn't present, and then later go with her to the full hearing where her abuser is present and is representing himself. In appearing pro se, her abuser is allowed to cross-examine his victim. You not only have to prepare her to answer questions, but to face her abuser and stand up to him for the first time in her life.
Working at legal aid, you have the opportunity to work with great legal minds who have had the opportunity to specialize in areas that private attorneys don't generally specialize in (eviction defense, foreclosure defense, CPO petitions, etc.). There is a great sense of camaraderie at legal aid and newer attorneys have the opportunity to be mentored by experienced attorneys. There are people in my organization who have been working in legal aid for 10, 15, 20, and even 30 years.
It's a different mind-set you'll find at legal aid. We do not have to worry about billable hours; we get to just concentrate on doing the best for our clients. The obvious downside to working at legal aid is the pay. However, there are sources for law school loan repayment assistance, and federal loans are forgiven after working in public service for ten years.
You will never be bored at legal aid. I can guarantee it. Another reason I love my job can be relayed through a confrontation I once had with an angry landlord. He asked me how I could possibly sleep at night. I informed him that I slept excellently, for I work at legal aid. I hope some of you will consider doing so also."
Posted by cld30 at 01:40 PM
CSO Small Group Counseling Sessions
This year the Career Services Office has decided to offer small group counseling sessions! These counseling sessions will offer second and third year students with similar career interests/goals the opportunity to meet together with two CSO counselors on a regular basis to discuss relevant issues and job-searching strategies. We anticipate groups being composed of 5 students or less, and focusing on particular practice areas, geographic areas, or work settings (small firms, non-profit employers, DC area employers, etc.). Group counseling sessions will offer the perfect setting for like-minded students to share job search advice, learn from other’s job search experiences, and benefit from the resources, ideas and advice of two counselors each session.
To get things started, we need your ideas for which groups you’d like to see formed. If CSO group counseling sessions sounds like something you would be interested in, please send an email to Candice Storey at cld30@case.edu by this Friday, September 25, noting your interest and the group you would like to join. We hope to start the group counseling sessions by mid-October. Please stop by the CSO to speak with a counselor if you have any questions!
Posted by cld30 at 12:44 PM
September 18, 2009
Public Service Theme Week
Are you interested in a career dedicated to the public interest? Next week, join the Career Services Office in Public Service Theme Week. We will highlight summer opportunities and permanent career paths in the public interest field. We look forward to seeing you at the following events:
Monday, September 21: Student Panel. 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are invited to hear fellow students discuss their summer experiences in public service. Learn how these students found their internships and jobs, what types of employers they worked for, and how they found funding. 12PM in A57.
Monday, September 21: EJW Roundtable Discussion. Planning to attend the Equal Justice Works Conference and wondering what to expect? Wondering about other opportunities through Equal Justice Works? Bring your questions to a roundtable discussion with representatives from the CSO. 1PM in A64.
Wednesday, September 23: Attorney Panel. 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are invited to hear attorneys speak about their careers in public service. Panelists have experience at Legal Aid, the Federal Public Defender, the Colorado Public Defender, and the U.S. Department of Education. 12PM in A57. A RSVP is required. RSVP by signing up in the Career Services Office.
Wednesday, September 23: EJW Roundtable Discussion. Planning to attend the Equal Justice Works Conference and wondering what to expect? Wondering about other opportunities through Equal Justice Works? Bring your questions to a roundtable discussion with representatives from the CSO. 3PM in A64.
Thursday, September 24: Attorney Speaker for 3L Students: Presidential Management Fellows Program. Join a current fellow in a discussion about the Presidential Management Fellows Program, including what opportunities are available and how you can succeed in the application process. 12PM in A57.
Posted by kcc17 at 12:09 PM
September 17, 2009
Health Law Student Conference
On Friday October 16th the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics (ASLME) and the Seton Hall University School of Law will be holding the third annual Health Law Student conference in Newark, New Jersey.
The conference seeks to expose law students to the myriad of career paths for attorneys in the health law sector. Through a series of panel discussions, health law attorneys will share their background and expertise in careers such as academia, compliance, private law firms, health information technology, government enforcement and regulation, non-profit organizations, drug and medical device companies, health care consulting, insurance companies, and hospitals, as well as advice for starting up a business or firm.
The CSO will pay the registration fee of the first 10 (ten) students who sign up in the Career Services Office to attend the conference. If interested, please stop by the CSO to register.
This conference will be a great program for students interested in exploring health law careers! If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Career Services Office.
Posted by kcc17 at 09:29 AM
September 14, 2009
Special Presentation: Your Professional Image
You are invited to join your colleagues from the Weatherhead School of Management in a professionalism seminar designed specifically for law school and business school students from Case Western Reserve University. The seminar will take place tomorrow, Sept. 15, from 4-6 pm in the Thwing Ballroom.
More now than ever, your professional image is a crucial component of your performance in interviews, during internships, and in permanent positions. This is an opportunity to hear from a professionalism expert with more than 20 years of experience.
Ms. Turcola has conducted training for numerous businesses, executives, and students. You can review her credentials as well as a list of her clients (including General Electric, Deloitte and Touche, and Hewlett Packard) on her website (www.askdanielle.com).
Don’t miss this chance to receive unique training catered specifically to your needs as a law student. Her presentation will include credibility robbers, business dress codes, and developing your business presence.
While I hope that you will attend the full session, if you have a class conflict please feel free to attend only part of session.
RSVP is required. Please RSVP by signing up in the Career Services Office.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:13 PM
September 11, 2009
Other Opportunities in International Law
Thank you to those of you who attended the events this week for International Law Week! We at the CSO hope that you found them entertaining and informative. If international law is your career plan, remember that there are opportunities everywhere. You heard many of them during our student and attorney panels. Here are few others that you may be interested in exploring:
U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Corps: Members of the Foreign Service act as liaisons and representatives of the United States in countries around the world. Career opportunities and concentrations are as diverse as the locations at which you may be posted. Many people find this to be an extremely adventurous, exciting, and rewarding career path. It is a competitive application process, including both written and oral examinations. For more information, visit http://www.careers.state.gov/resources/index.html.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): While the primary charge of the FBI is domestic law enforcement, the FBI does maintain more than 70 legal attaché offices (referred to as Legats) around the globe, providing investigative and law enforcement services for more than 200 countries, territories, and islands. Each Legat is situated in a U.S. Embassy and works with sovereign law enforcement to stop foreign crime before it reaches American shores. Information for graduating students about career opportunities within the FBI may be found at http://www.fbijobs.gov/.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA is charged with providing national security intelligence to senior U.S. policymakers. The Agency accomplishes this through domestic and international intelligence-gathering, both through official and clandestine channels. Career opportunities with the CIA include analytical positions, clandestine service positions, language positions, and more. Information about student programs and careers within the CIA may be found at https://www.cia.gov/careers/index.html.
United Nations (UN): The UN was chartered in 1945 to promote and maintain international peace, security, and human rights and to develop friendly relations among nations to encourage cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems worldwide. The UN is headquartered in New York City, with other offices throughout the world. The UN is made up of the main body (the Secretariat) and numerous special programs and funds, such as UNICEF. Career opportunities are available within all these bodies. More information about the UN may be found at www.un.org, and information about internships and career opportunities may be found at https://jobs.un.org/elearn/production/home.html.
Remember that the CSO Resource Room has many guides and resources to aid you in your international law job search, including the brand new The Human Rights Internship Handbook (2010) and Internships in International Affairs (2010). Schedule an appointment or stop in to learn more!
Posted by cld30 at 09:49 AM
September 10, 2009
Where would you like to live and what type of law would you like to practice? Please let your voice be heard and complete the Geographic Survey!
The CSO has a full-time position devoted to employer outreach which is unique to Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Each year our office asks the student body to fill out a geographic survey so we can better assist you with your career goals.
Please take the time to complete the following short survey which will help our office determine which cities and states to visit and the types of employer we will meet with!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Q5L2ew8Ht6EypAk6wwXqzQ_3d_3d
Thanks!
Posted by kcc17 at 08:27 AM
September 02, 2009
2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair
The 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair will take place October 24-25, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Conference and Career Fair offers students an opportunity to meet with employers for volunteer opportunities, summer positions and postgraduate opportunities in the public interest sector.
Student registration is now open. Read below for registration instructions and important dates. If you have any questions about the Conference and Career Fair, please feel free to contact your career counselor or the CSO.
Students interested in attending the 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair may sign up for a Symplicity account and submit their cover letter and resume beginning Monday, August 31.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the registration instructions and tips.
Signing up for a Symplicity account is free. Most student registrations to attend the Conference and Career Fair will be free.
To sign up:
1. Create a Symplicity account at https://ejw-csm.symplicity.com/students/. If your school uses Symplicity, you will still need to create a new account.
2. Confirm your email address by clicking on the link that is emailed to you.
3. Update your profile information under "Profile"
4. Upload a cover letter, résumé and transcript, if applicable. Please note that you may not upload writing samples into the system. Bring these to the interview with you.
5. Register to attend the Career Fair under "Events." You must register in order to be admitted into the Conference and Career Fair. A Symplicity account does not constitute as registering.
6. Submit applications to employers through Symplicity.
For more information and for tips on how to have a successful Conference and Career Fair, visit our website at www.equaljusticeworks.org.
IMPORTANT DATES
Aug. 26 - Employer registration closes
Aug. 31 - Student sign-ups begin
Sept. 11 - Student sign-ups end
Sept. 30 - Student Accept/Decline begins
Oct. 7 - Student Accept/Decline ends
Oct. 24 & 25 - The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair
Oct. 24 - Law School Awards Luncheon
Posted by kcc17 at 06:55 PM
September 01, 2009
Upcoming networking & educational events can make the difference when seeking summer or permanent employment!
The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) has many events that are fantastic for getting to know attorneys in the Cleveland area. Students can become members for free! Applications can be found in the CSO resource room or on the CMBA website:
It is important meet attorneys and get involved in the community! A great option is to contact the CMBA to see if you can volunteer to help with an event which will allow you to participate in a different way.
A few highlighted events from the CMBA are below. If you have any questions about the events, please contact your CSO counselor or the CMBA.
• 9.9.09: The Sky’s the Limit Networking Event
The event will take place at the Burke Lakefront airport from 5pm-7pm and is a great way to meet women in the legal community
• 9.10.09: Women in the Law and Litigation Sections Judge’s Series •
Join the Women in Law and Litigation Sections for their Judge's Series, a luncheon event featuring a different judge each month.
For September, the CMBA is pleased to welcome Judge Nancy Fuerst and Judge John O'Donnell, both of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division.
• 9.11.09: Guide to The Court Series- U.S. District Court
This series is designed to introduce attorneys to practice in eight local courts and offices. Topics include: local rules, decorum, and forms and procedures. Additionally, judges and court staff will be present to share their expectations and experiences. Held on-site at each court, this is a prime opportunity to walk through the maze of people, paper and protocol at the courts.
• 9.14.09: GAL Project- Assessing Cases for Medical Child Abuse
Topics include:
An Overview of Medical Child Abuse
Panel Discussion - Difficulties in Assessing Medical Child Abuse
Question and Answer Session
• 9.15.09: Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Meeting
Presented by Michael A. Spielman, Esq., Senior Manager, Transaction Tax, Ernst & Young
• 9.16.09: Government Attorney Section Meeting
Presenter: Gary Singletary, Assistant Director of Law, City of Cleveland
Topic: Home Rule After the Ohio Supreme Court's Residency Decision
• 9.16.09: Health Care Law Section Meeting•Presentation: "Health Care Fraud"
Presenter: Thomas J. Ferkovic, SS&G Financial Services
• 9.17.09: Family Law Section Meeting
Topic: View from the Bench: Juvenile Court
Speakers: The Honorable Kristen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
• 9.25.09: Greener Way to Work Luncheon
The CMBA's Green Initiative Committee will host the First Annual David B. Webster Greener Way to Work Day lunch celebration honoring the memory of the late David Webster and recognizing those law firms/offices "Green Certified" by the CMBA for 2009-10. Michael Short of the Clean Air Conservancy will discuss David's founding of the organization and efforts to use "cap & trade" as a means to improve the environment.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:30 PM